Duke Ferris of Game Revolution has been doing some snooping around the DoJ's statistic website. It is an interesting little piece of investigation that I wish more of the mainstream media would do.
Simply put the DOJ's statistics for violence when compared to the release of the Playstation, PS2, and the different GTA games don't show much of a relationship. Overall Violent crime rates per 1,000 person age 12 and over has gone down and is considerably lower in 2003 than it was in 1994. The US release of the Playstation was September 9, 1995. From that point on the violence rate have been dropping. the "gamer" generation's seem to be a little more mild if anything.
Here is a look at Homicides from 1970 to 2005. Notice that we have a brief rise in 2000 to 2001 but look at the huge drop from 1998 to 1999 for the 18-24 year olds.
I have never been one to go along with the "games make people violent" idea. I've seen psychological test done and at best you can say it gets the persons adrenalin going. But it's a stretch to say it "causes" the person to be more violent. I can understand violent people seeking out anything that lets them act out their violence, but the stats just don't show a correlation let alone help on a causation.
Some might say "Games help improve aim, they are becoming killers." To which I would point the person at paint-ball, hunting, and any sport involving a thrown object. I've done martial arts for many years and know all to well that life is very durable and flimsy all at once. Most common ordinary weapons can be used as weapons. Cast iron skillet is a show stopper to the unsuspecting victim of a bludgeon attack from this unyielding weapon and how many of those do we allow in the world? How about a paring knife? Ever seen what a fork can do to a throat?
Games don't make violence people. Man has been killing each other far longer than the TV, video games and the like have been around. Want to talk about violence? Look at early Greece or ancient Europe. Look at the middle east. Kids in groups learn from an early age that violence is a useful tool. Some learn it can be used for gain and abuse it. Others learn to fear it and shun it.
My personal thought is that we would do better if we taught our children Judeo-Christian morals, what cause and effect are, and instill in them a since or responsibility for their actions. Instead we treat seem to be after some fountain of youth that removes us from responsiblity. If you screw up the government will take care of you. We have gone to far in our quest to protect our children. They are supposed to be kids until suddenly we expect them to be adults. 14-18 Oh your still a child ignor you body and forget about these chemical drives you have. Wait your 21 now time to be an adult
"What? Whats that you say you have no clue on how to be an adult because no one ever showed you? You were never given responsibility? That just crazy! I should talk to your parents. "
"But..."
"Wait... I am your parent."
Simply put the DOJ's statistics for violence when compared to the release of the Playstation, PS2, and the different GTA games don't show much of a relationship. Overall Violent crime rates per 1,000 person age 12 and over has gone down and is considerably lower in 2003 than it was in 1994. The US release of the Playstation was September 9, 1995. From that point on the violence rate have been dropping. the "gamer" generation's seem to be a little more mild if anything.
Here is a look at Homicides from 1970 to 2005. Notice that we have a brief rise in 2000 to 2001 but look at the huge drop from 1998 to 1999 for the 18-24 year olds.
I have never been one to go along with the "games make people violent" idea. I've seen psychological test done and at best you can say it gets the persons adrenalin going. But it's a stretch to say it "causes" the person to be more violent. I can understand violent people seeking out anything that lets them act out their violence, but the stats just don't show a correlation let alone help on a causation.
Some might say "Games help improve aim, they are becoming killers." To which I would point the person at paint-ball, hunting, and any sport involving a thrown object. I've done martial arts for many years and know all to well that life is very durable and flimsy all at once. Most common ordinary weapons can be used as weapons. Cast iron skillet is a show stopper to the unsuspecting victim of a bludgeon attack from this unyielding weapon and how many of those do we allow in the world? How about a paring knife? Ever seen what a fork can do to a throat?
Games don't make violence people. Man has been killing each other far longer than the TV, video games and the like have been around. Want to talk about violence? Look at early Greece or ancient Europe. Look at the middle east. Kids in groups learn from an early age that violence is a useful tool. Some learn it can be used for gain and abuse it. Others learn to fear it and shun it.
My personal thought is that we would do better if we taught our children Judeo-Christian morals, what cause and effect are, and instill in them a since or responsibility for their actions. Instead we treat seem to be after some fountain of youth that removes us from responsiblity. If you screw up the government will take care of you. We have gone to far in our quest to protect our children. They are supposed to be kids until suddenly we expect them to be adults. 14-18 Oh your still a child ignor you body and forget about these chemical drives you have. Wait your 21 now time to be an adult
"What? Whats that you say you have no clue on how to be an adult because no one ever showed you? You were never given responsibility? That just crazy! I should talk to your parents. "
"But..."
"Wait... I am your parent."
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